Tray for hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation

ABSTRACT

A modular type tray ( 1 ) for hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation is described, in which the nutritive solution is carried to the roots of plants grown in the tray by a tube with built-in drips ( 2 ) situated in a slot ( 3 ) on the tray bottom. The tray consists of at least one plastic casing made by extrusion, a pair of closing flanges ( 5, 6 ) to be fixed to the opposite tray ends and (if necessary) at least one middle flange ( 7 ), placed between two plastic casings to join them together with a watertight seal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention consists of a modular type tray for hydroponic andaeroponic cultivation, in which the nutritive solution is carried to theroots of plants grown in the tray by a tube with built-in drips situatedin a slot on the tray bottom.

[0002] The tray consists of at least one plastic casing made byextrusion, a pair of closing flanges to apply to the opposite ends ofthe tray and (if necessary) at least one middle flange, placed betweentwo plastic casings to join them together with a watertight seal.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

[0003] Systems for hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation are known andwidely used for some time which include a large number of fixed ormoveable trays usually situated inside one or more greenhouses: theplants are held and carried by support means belonging to the trays sothat their roots stick out from the support means inside the trays.

[0004] To provide the plants with water and nutrients necessary fortheir growth, their roots are supplied with a nutritive solution (comingfrom one or more containers) which, in the known type systems, isregularly put in the tray area underlying the plant support means bytubes with nozzles (or other equivalent means) situated on the traybottoms.

[0005] The known systems for aeroponic cultivation have (or may have)high system and running costs due to the fact that (very often) theprototype stage has not been surpassed and/or that complicated andexpensive engineering solutions have been adopted which are notjustified by any benefits gained.

[0006] In addition, the use of tubes with sprinkler nozzles to carry thenutritive solution to the plant roots needs the solution to be underpressure (typically at 2-3 atmospheres): this entails (or may entail)considerable costs for the realisation and operation of the nutritivesolution delivery circuit, since it is necessary to use fairly powerfulpumps (with high energy consumption) to pressurize the nutritivesolution and make it circulate, as well as choose the appropriateconnection parts between the various tube pieces and make theconnections carefully so as to avoid breaks in the connection partsand/or leaks of the pressurized fluid, and so on.

[0007] Extensive studies and research carried out by the applicant haveshown that, without undermining the characteristics (productivity, etc.)of a hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation system, it is possible toreplace the tubes having sprinkler nozzles used in known type trays withtubes having built-in drips, situated on the tray bottom, which have theadvantage of supplying a nutritive solution at ambient pressure,allowing less powerful circulation pumps to be used (with lower energyconsumption) to circulate the nutritive solution, and the use of lessrobust connection parts between the various tube pieces (and,accordingly, less expensive) and reduce the times (and, accordingly, thecosts) necessary to carry out the same joints.

[0008] Subject of the present invention is a tray for hydroponic andaeroponic cultivation, capable of being produced on an industrial scale,that allows optimum plant cultivation by carrying the nutritive solutionto their roots through tubes with built-in drips situated on the traybottom, thus overcoming and/or eliminating the limitations and/ordefects experienced previously by known type trays for hydroponic andaeroponic cultivation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The subject of the present invention is a modular type tray forhydroponic and aeroponic cultivation, in which the nutritive solution isbrought to the roots of plants grown by a tube with built-in dripssituated in a slot made on the tray bottom.

[0010] The tray consists of at least one plastic casing made byextrusion, a pair of closing flanges to apply to the opposite ends ofthe tray and (if necessary) at least one middle flange, placed betweentwo adjacent plastic casings to join them together with a watertightseal.

LIST OF FIGURES

[0011] The invention will now be better described with reference tonon-limitating embodiments shown in the enclosed figures, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a tray made according to theinvention;

[0013]FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-section of one of the casingsbelonging to the tray of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 schematically shows the perspective views of the two sidesof a first closing flange;

[0015]FIG. 4 schematically shows the perspective views of the two sidesof a second closing flange;

[0016]FIG. 5 schematically shows the perspective views of the two sidesof a middle flange;

[0017]FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically show the perspective views of theexternal side of a first flange, respectively the internal side of asecond flange belonging to an additional pair of middle flanges;

[0018]FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the support means of the plantsgrown in a tray produced according to the invention.

[0019] In the enclosed figures, the corresponding parts will beidentified by the same reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The subject of the present invention is a tray 1 for hydroponicand aeroponic cultivation, in which the nutritive solution is carried tothe roots of the plants grown 1 by a tube with built-in drips 2 situatedin a slot 3 made on the tray bottom 1.

[0021] Such plants are held by support means that close the upperopening of tray 1; an embodiment of such support means will be describedas a non-limiting example with reference to FIG. 8.

[0022] The nutritive solution which remains unabsorbed by the plantroots collects on the tray bottom 1, from where it flows out through ahole made in the tray bottom 1 and a tube applied to such hole and/or inanother way in itself known; in the enclosed figures the means for theoutflow of the nutritive solution have been omitted for simplicity ofgraphic representation.

[0023]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a non-limiting embodiment of amodular type tray 1, made according to the invention: in FIG. 1 the tray1 includes a pair of casings 4 (4,′ 4″) joined together but, withoutleading away from the scope of the invention, tray 1 can include asingle casing 4 or three or more casings 4 to adapt itself better to thespecific needs of each user.

[0024] Still without leading away from the scope of the invention, it ispossible to choose the length of casing 4 each time (respectively thatof each of the two or more casings 4 to be joined together) able tobetter meet the specific needs of the user.

[0025] A tray 1 made according to the invention which includes at leastone casing 4 and a pair of closing flanges (5, 6; FIGS. 3 and 4) toapply to the opposite ends of tray 1; the tray 1 of FIG. 1 consists of apair of casings 4 (4,′ 4″), of the closing flanges (5, 6) and of a pairof middle flanges 7 (7′ and 7″, FIGS. 5; 7 a and 7 b, FIGS. 6 and 7),placed between the two adjacent casings 4 (4,′ 4″) to connect themtogether with a watertight seal: each middle flange (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b)is fixed to one end of one of the casings 4 (4,′ 4″).

[0026]FIG. 1 also shows the projecting edges 11, present along theperimeter of the internal side (i.e. of that in contact with one end ofthe casing 4) of the closing flanges (5, 6; FIGS. 3 and 4) and themiddle ones 7 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7), able to be elastically placed on thecorresponding end of the casing 4 to fix the flange (5, 6, 7) to the endof casing 4: such projecting edges 11 are not obviously present at theupper edges of the flanges (5, 6, 7), which are not in contact with thecasing 4. Preferably, but not necessarily, the casings 4 are plastic andmade by extrusion.

[0027] In the embodiment of FIG. 1 each middle flange 7 (7,′respectively 7″) is fixed to one end of a casing 4 (4,′ respectively 4″)and two adjacent middle flanges (7,′ 7″) are joined together by a numberof bolts 8 (or other functionally equivalent reversible connectionmeans).

[0028] Obviously, a tray 1 including at least three casings 4 includesat least two pairs of middle flanges 7 (placed between two adjacentcasings 4); each middle flange 7 (7,′ 7″) of each pair of flanges isfixed to one end of one of the casings 4 (4,′ respectively 4″) and theadjacent middle flanges 7 are joined together by bolts 8 (or otherfunctionally equivalent reversible connection means).

[0029]FIG. 1 also shows the tube with built-in drips 2 situated in slot3 (better illustrated in the cross-section of FIG. 2) made on the bottomof casings 4 which make up the tray 1.

[0030]FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-section of a preferredembodiment of a casing 4 belonging to tray 1, sectioned according to theplane II-II of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 shows the slot 3 made on the bottom of thecasing 4, while the tube with built-in drips 2 has been omitted forsimplicity of graphic representation.

[0031] In the embodiment example shown in FIG. 2, the casing 4 has a“honeycomb” structure allowing the attainment of a rigid, strong casingbut which is also light, inexpensive and easily obtainable by extrusion;in the preferred embodiment described here, the internal side of theclosing flanges (5, 6; FIGS. 3 and 4) and the middle ones 7 (FIGS. 5, 6and 7) have projecting tabs 10 able to be inserted into the “honeycomb”structure of the casing 4 to fix the flange (5, 6 or 7) to the end ofthe casing 4.

[0032]FIG. 3 schematically shows the perspective views of the two sidesof a first closing flange 5; FIG. 3 shows the projecting tabs 10 and theprojecting edge 11, able to fix the closing flange 5 to the end of thecasing 4.

[0033]FIG. 4 schematically shows the perspective views of the two sidesof a second closing flange 6, which differs from the one shown in FIG. 3basically since it has a hole 12 at the centre of its lower area thatallows the tube with built-in drips 2 (FIG. 1) to enter tray 1, where itis housed in slot 3 made on the bottom of the casings 4 which make upthe tray 1 (FIG. 2).

[0034] Preferably, but not necessarily, the closing flanges (5, 6) andany middle flanges (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b) are subsequently fixed to the endsof the casing 4 by a number of screws (omitted in the enclosed figuresfor simplicity of graphic representation) housed in seats envisaged forsuch purpose in the closing flanges (5, 6) and in the middle ones (7,′7″; 7 a, 7 b): in the figures from 3 to 7 one such seat is denoted byreference number 15.

[0035]FIG. 5 schematically shows the perspective views of the two sidesof a middle flange 7 (7,′ 7″), that has at least a hole 13 set at thecentre of its lower area and is able to allow the passage of the tubewith built-in drips 2 (FIG. 1) and at least one additional hole 14, atthe side of hole 13 and able to intercommunicate the two adjacentcasings 4 joined together by the two middle flanges 7 (7,′ 7″) of FIG. 1to allow the smooth flowing of the nutritive solution into tray 1.

[0036] The external side of the middle flange 7 (7,′ 7″) of FIG. 5 issmooth to allow the watertight sealing of two flanges 7 (7,′ 7″) joinedtogether, while the internal side 7 of the middle flange 10 hasprojecting tabs able to be inserted in the “honeycomb” structure of theadjacent casing 4 and the projecting edge 11 able to be placedelastically on the corresponding end of the casing 4 to fix the middleflange 7 to the end of the casing 4.

[0037] Finally, in FIG. 5 one of the seats, holding the means 8 able tofasten together two middle flanges (7,′ 7″), is denoted by 16.

[0038]FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically show the perspective views of theexternal side of a first flange (7 a), respectively of the internalsides of a second flange (7 b) belonging to a pair of middle flanges (7a, 7 b) that differ from the middle flange 7 shown in FIG. 5 basicallysince they are joined together by a number of projecting parts 17,carried by one (7 b; FIG. 7) of the middle flanges, that (preferably butnot necessarily) has a “T” section and which engage in as many seats 18made in the other flange (flange 7 a; FIG. 6) and having a section ofcomplementary shape to that of projecting parts 17.

[0039]FIGS. 6 and 7 also show the hole 13 for the passage of the tubewith built-in drips 2 (FIG. 1), at least one additional hole 14 thatintercommunicates the two adjacent casings 4, the projecting tabs 10 andthe projecting edge 11.

[0040]FIG. 8 shows, as a non-limiting example, a perspective view ofsupport means 19 (made of polystyrene or other equivalent material) thatclose the upper opening of a tray 1 made according to the invention; theplants grown in the tray 1 are held by a large number of cone-shapedholes 20 made in the support means 19 and are eliminated together withthe support means 19 at the end of their productive cycle.

[0041] Preferably, but not necessarily, a layer of black material (or,in any case, of dark colour) is applied to the side of the support means19 (not shown in FIG. 8) situated inside tray I that prevents (or atleast hinders) the development of algae and/or other foreign casingsinside tray 1.

[0042] Without departing from the scope of the invention it is possiblefor a person skilled in the art to carry out, all the modifications andimprovements suggested by normal experience and the natural evolution ofthe technique, to the tray for hydroponic and aeroponic cultivationsubject of the present description.

1. A tray for hydroponic and aeroponic cultivation, characterised inthat the nutritive solution is carried to the roots of plants grown inthe tray (1) by means of a tube with built-in drips (2) situated in aslot (3) made on the tray bottom (1).
 2. A tray as in claim 1,characterised in that it is of modular type.
 3. A tray as in claim 1,characterised in that it includes at least one casing (4) and a pair ofclosing flanges (5, 6) to apply to the opposite ends of the tray (1). 4.A tray as in claim 3, characterised in that the slot (3) is made on thebottom of the at least one casing (4) belonging to the tray (1).
 5. Atray as in claim 3, characterised in that the at least one casing (4) ismade of plastic.
 6. A tray as in claim 3, characterised in that the atleast one casing (4) is made by extrusion.
 7. A tray as in claim 3,characterised in that the at least one casing (4) has a “honeycomb”structure.
 8. A tray as in claim 3, characterised in that there is aprojecting edge (11), along the perimeter of the internal side ofclosing flanges (5, 6), able to be placed elastically on thecorresponding end of the casing (4), said projecting edge (11) beingomitted at the upper edge of the closing flanges (5, 6).
 9. A tray as inclaim 3, characterised in that one (6) of the closing flanges (5, 6) hasa hole (12) at the centre of its lower area able to allow the tube withbuilt-in drips (2) to enter the tray (1).
 10. A tray as in claim 3,characterised in that the closing flanges (5, 6) are subsequently fixedto the ends of the casing (4) by a number of screws housed in seats (15)envisaged for such purpose in the closing flanges (5, 6).
 11. A tray asin claim 7, characterised in that there are projecting tabs (10), on theinternal side of the closing flanges (5, 6), able to be inserted in the“honeycomb” structure of the at least one casing (4).
 12. A tray as inclaim 3, characterised in that it also includes at least one pair ofmiddle flanges (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b) placed between two adjacent casings(4,′ 4″) to join them together with a watertight seal, each middleflange (7,′ 7 a; respectively 7,″ 7 b) of the at least one pair beingfixed to one end of one of the casings (4,′ respectively 4″).
 13. A trayas in claim 12, characterised in that the middle flanges (7,′ 7″)belonging to each pair of middle flanges are joined together by means ofa reversible connection (8).
 14. A tray as in claim 12, characterised inthat, along the perimeter of the internal side of the middle flanges(7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b), there is a projecting edge (11) able to be placedelastically on the corresponding end of the casing (4), said projectingedge (11) being omitted at the upper edge of the at least one middleflange (7).
 15. A tray as in claim 12 in which the at least one casing(4) has a “honeycomb” structure, characterised in that, on the internalside of the middle flanges (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b), there are projecting tabs(10) able to be inserted in the “honeycomb” structure of the adjacentcasings (4).
 16. A tray as in claim 12, characterised in that eachmiddle flange (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b) has at least one hole (13) set at thecentre of its lower area and able to allow the passage of the tube withbuilt-in drips (2).
 17. A tray as in claim 16, characterised in thateach middle flange (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b) also has at least one additionalhole (14), at the side of the central hole (13), able tointercommunicate the two adjacent casings (4) joined together by the atleast one pair of middle flanges (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b).
 18. A tray as inclaim 12, characterised in that the middle flanges (7 a, 7 b) belongingto each pair of middle flanges are joined together by a number ofprojecting parts (17), carried by a middle flange (7 b) of said pair (7a, 7 b), able to engage in as many seats (18) that are made in the otherflange (7 a) of said pair (7 a, 7 b) and which have a section ofcomplementary shape to that of the projecting parts (17).
 19. A tray asin claim 18, characterised in that the projecting parts (17) and theseats (18) have-a “T” section.
 20. A tray as in claim 12, characterisedin that the middle flanges (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b) are subsequently fixed tothe ends of the casing 4 by a number of screws held in seats (15)envisaged for such purpose in the middle flanges (7,′ 7″; 7 a, 7 b). 21.A tray as in claim 3, characterised in that it also includes supportmeans (19) having a large number of cone-shaped holes (20) able to holdthe plants grown in the tray (1).
 22. A tray as in claim 21,characterised in that a layer of dark coloured material is applied tothe side of the support means (19) situated inside the tray (1).